September 21, 2000 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Congress is
willing to listen, but is not very knowledgeable about
benefits issues, according to a new employer survey.
Employers also feel that while Congress is most influenced by
the media on these issues, the media is neither accurate nor
fair in their coverage.

The American Benefits Council (formerly APPWP)
Membership Survey found that just 28% of respondents agree
that Congress has sufficient understanding of the role of
employers in providing benefits through the
workplace.

Just 38% feel that Congress has sufficient understanding
of the laws and regulations governing these programs.

Influential

Respondents felt that Congress was most influenced
by:

66% – Media

48% – Employees, including unions and employee
advocacy groups

14% – Policy think tanks/academics

9% – Benefit plan service providers

Only 17% felt that employers (and their advocacy groups)
have a lot of influence in Congress, though 80% believe
employers have some influence.

Over half (56%) of respondents say the media’s coverage
of employer-sponsored benefits issues is either not at all
(10%) or not very (46%) accurate. Nearly two-thirds (62%)
find the media’s coverage of employer-sponsored benefits
issues is either not at all (11%) or not very (51%)
fair.

Legislative Agenda

Sixty-four percent believe that Congress is willing to
seriously consider employer perspectives in developing
benefits legislation. However, 81% don’t believe that
Congress gives appropriate priority to legislation that
would strengthen the employer-provided system.

Over half (53%) say that election year discussions of
health and retirement issues have made no difference in the
public’s understanding, and 38% believe the discussions
have actually hurt public understanding of these
issues.

Looking Ahead

Respondents would like to see action on the following
areas:

71% – favor facilitating phased retirement by
allowing distributions of retirement payments prior to
normal retirement age to be either a very (36%) or
somewhat (35%) high priority

65% – consider enactment of incentives that will
encourage employers to offer long-term care insurance to
employees to be either a very high (19%) or somewhat high
(46%) priority

57% – are concerned about rules that hinder providing
benefits to an international workforce

53% – would like to see additional tax incentives for
broad-based employee participation in stock plans.

The American Benefits Council Membership Survey was
conducted by Harris Interactive. The survey was conducted
via the Internet with 200 members of the Council between
August 28 and September 6, 2000.